Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, and More Celebrate the Game of Thrones Season 4 Premiere

Who knew that King’s Landing was on the Upper West Side? The first indication, at HBO’s premiere of the fourth season of Game of Thrones last night, was a forty-foot wide (one might even venture to say life-size) dragon that was posted up in Lincoln Center plaza—its red eyes aglow, matching the carpet underfoot—and framed by the soberly modernist arches of the Metropolitan Opera’s façade. The second sure sign was the show’s epic theme song—the one nobody minds is nearly two minutes long—played by the New York Philharmonic at Alice Tully Hall with the drama of a Beethoven symphony. The third undeniable signal was up the street at the American Museum of Natural History, where the Iron Throne was photo-ready at the after-party, inspiring dozens of well-heeled geeks to queue like vassals for the chance to take a picture in the hot seat.

Indeed, last night, the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life may as well have been the Red Keep, with GoT cast members galore: Lena Headey, her black Jenny Packham dress revealing tattoos never seen on the show; Rose Leslie in a pearl-white beaded dress by Antonio Berardi; Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams posted up at the bar (ordering water only); Peter Dinklage looking super-dashing; and the reclusive creator, George R.R. Martin, easily the most popular man in the room last night, gamely taking pictures with guests. They were joined by fans who ran the gamut of New York society—from Alex Acquavella to Zosia Mamet—in a setting that was about the most elaborate version of a medieval banquet hall imaginable.

The various kingdoms of Westeros were well represented in the décor, with fur throws appropriate for Winterfell lining chaises in the several lounge areas, an “Ascend the Wall” 4-D experience located on the mezzanine level, and the museum’s famed blue whale covered in a projection of menacingly blazing flames that would, of course, pose no threat to any member of the House Targaryen.

It’s still shocking for many fans to see Emilia Clarke, who plays a peroxide-blonde dragon queen on the hit show, as a brunette. “Is that her?” one guessed asked, having just brushed shoulders with the real-life Khaleesi. But there she was in a black Donna Karan halter, her hair in large curls, and looking like a dark-hued version of Marilyn Monroe. Madonna was nowhere in sight.

Across the room, the radiant and delightful Gwendoline Christie, a current darling of the London fashion set who is slightly better known as the fierce Brienne of Tarth, caught up with her friend Pat McGrath. “It’s couture, darling!” she enthused of her hand-embroidered dress by Giles, who was also her guest for the evening.

Christie had perhaps no bigger fan in the room than McGrath, who earlier had said, “Oh, we know Gwendoline. I met her at BoomBox [the London club] and took a picture of her on my phone because I liked her look; that was years ago . . . And I’ve watched the show from the very beginning, though I might have first started because of [Vogue Beauty Director] Sarah Brown’s Twitter going on and on about it.” So which of the seven kingdoms most inspires this creative luminary? “Oh, my god, beyond the Wall, baby. It’s about beyond the Wall!”